I hate getting lost. I don’t like to get lost in Ikea. I definitely don’t like to get lost when I’m headed to a meeting. I start to panic even though I know I can ask a sales clerk for directions, or I can call the person I’m meeting and tell him or her I’m going to be late.
Even though I don’t like getting lost, I try to make room for it. I see the value in it. It’s in getting lost that I start to discover who I am and what I think. Not having my bearings causes me to evaluate my direction and to reorient myself when necessary.
Getting lost doesn’t require a lot of effort. It can happen in a familiar setting – the sun goes behind the clouds and the park looks entirely different. Maybe that seemingly friendly tree is now menacing. It can happen with a book; it happens to me all the time when I read. I return to a book and reread a section and discover a new layer. I find myself understanding the book in a way that I hadn’t previously.
Getting lost isn’t just for the creative people; it’s important for the more analytical people, too. My youngest brother is one such analytical person. He often feels lost when he’s taking a new engineering class or conducting research. He then grows, and it’s the result of embracing uncertainty and bewilderment.
The business world isn’t exempt, either. Businesses may be more hesitant to get lost, especially when they’re thinking about the bottom line, but getting lost is a prerequisite for being found. Getting lost leads a business or a communications department to consider other avenues. That business or department begins to examine what they’ve been doing and either to supplement those activities with something new or to choose a different route altogether.
Do you think getting lost is important?
Photo: Kotomicreations (CC BY-NC 2.0)
texascopywriter says
Getting lost is critical to growth and a deeper comprehension of knowledge. It separates the men from the boys (so to speak), meaning that there will be those who get lost and give up. They’re boys (or little girls) regardless of their ages. Then there are those that will continue looking for the path, dead reckoning for that solution, until they make it to the light. Those are the men and women. Get lost! The next time someone says that to you in a snarky way, just answer, “Gladly!”
Erin F. says
texascopywriter Haha! I love it. I can’t wait to see the looks of confusion when I say, “Gladly!”
texascopywriter says
Erin F. And you simply MUST write a post about it and let us in on the facial expression and the growth you obtained from it as well.
Erin F. says
texascopywriter Deal!
TheJackB says
Remember the next time you ask me to stop directions that I won’t and it is not because I am a man but because the joy of finding a new place is worth the price of the journey. Or something like that.
texascopywriter says
TheJackB I like your thinking, Jack. But, you’ve got to remain chivalrous as well. It’s a fine line you’ve got to walk, but one that’s worth the trouble.
TheJackB says
texascopywriter It is chivalrous to ask the lady to join us on an adventure through the looking glass, isn’t it. 😉
Erin F. says
TheJackB I’m just happy to hear that chivalry isn’t dead. There’s hope yet!
texascopywriter says
TheJackB Indeed it is Jack. Just remember you need to step up and be the protective knight in shining armor should the adventure turn less adventurous and more dark and ominous in nature. 😉 #winteriscoming
TheJackB says
texascopywriter Tell the maester to acquire more supplies, there will be a need.
RebeccaTodd says
TheJackB @texascopywriter I’m not sure how we got all GOT here but I like it!
Erin F. says
@RebeccaTodd @TheJackB @texascopywriter It’s my magnetic personality. Hahaha! Okay, maybe it’s my dumb jokes.
texascopywriter says
TheJackB OMG! You know GoT! I’ve found my home away from home. We need to have a G+ hangout with @RebeccaTodd, you, and Erin!
texascopywriter says
RebeccaTodd Yea! Another GoT fan! I love it!
Erin F. says
texascopywriter The books are on my reading list. Maybe I can start them in August? *crosses fingers* @RebeccaTodd @TheJackB
Erin F. says
texascopywriter The jokes are even funnier now that I have a context for them. 🙂
RebeccaTodd says
Erin F. @texascopywriter @TheJackB I’ve read them all! Had DWD on the first day…finished 27 hours later. I’m about as nerdy as they come…
Erin F. says
RebeccaTodd Then I must be just as nerdy. I do the same thing when I’m ensconced in a good book.
Erin F. says
RebeccaTodd Livefyre isn’t letting me like your comment. Boo.
texascopywriter says
RebeccaTodd Sounds like you’re just as obsessed as I am! I’ve only read one and two and seen seasons 1 and 2 (after reading first, of course). Starting A Storm of Swords now. It gives me butterflies just thinking about it! #imafreakandiknowit
texascopywriter says
Erin F. It won’t let me “like” yours either, but I was able to “like” Rebecca’s. Strange.
TheJackB says
texascopywriter @Erin F. @RebeccaToddRead them all more than once, love those books.
RebeccaTodd says
texascopywriter @Erin. F Yes I couldn’t tag people as usual or like everything on this post either!
Erin F. says
RebeccaTodd I’m not sure what the issue is there. I was having some other problems that corrected themselves when I cleared the cache and browser history. @Livefyre is on the case, though. I told them about the tagging problems as well as some of the other issues I was having.
Erin F. says
TheJackB When I was taking a photography class, I tried to get lost. I found some of my best photos by taking an excursion.I’ll try not to get too irritated when you refuse to stop and ask for directions… 🙂
Hajra says
Getting lost is important; that is the only way you find new questions and maybe even answers. What is the fun of knowing everything and having everything laid out in front of you?
Erin F. says
Hajra Even though I prefer to have directions when I’m building a bookcase or something like that, I tend to build the thing by myself. Part of it’s my stubborn nature; the other part is the curiosity about how far I can go before I recognize and admit I need help. When there aren’t any instructions, I might flounder for a bit, but I’ll eventually figure out a solution – even if it’s not the most intuitive one.
RebeccaTodd says
Lovely post Erin! One of my favourite characters in literary history is Dirk Gently. Behold, the glory that was Douglas Adams… “I rarely end up where I was intending to go, but often I end up somewhere I needed to be.” Really, what more needs to be said?
Erin F. says
RebeccaTodd Nothing at all!I remember having a conversation in a creative writing workshop about whether we wrote with the ending in mind or the beginning. It’s very rare that I have an ending in mind. Sometimes, I don’t even have a beginning. I just start writing and hope I find my way.
texascopywriter says
Erin F. RebeccaTodd TheJackB I invite you all to come read my post about what freelance writers can learn from the GoT — given our recent convo: http://www.freelancewritingdreams.com/what-the-game-of-thrones-can-teach-freelance-writers/
JennaTest says
@dilip Patel
JennaTest says
Erin F. KBNKB